Emmis Lays Off 32 Employees
They were company wide and amount to about $7.5 million in cuts across the company. Emmis revenue was down 5% in September, October, and November, typically some of the best revenue-performing months of the year for radio. Emmis' CEO Jeff Smulyan said it was a challenging quarter for Emmis, and it was a challenging quarter for the radio industry.
National The Weakest Link For Emmis
CFO Ryan Hornaday told investors national revenue was down 12% in September, October, and November while local was down 5.5% and digital was up over 8%. September finished down 2%, October was off 11% and November was off 1%.
What to Do With $21 Billion In Debt
It's no secret that iHeartMedia is carrying a massive amount of debt and hasn't been able to nudge it south. While walking the floor at CES, CEO Bob Pittman was interviewed by Fox Business Host Liz Claman who said to Pittman, eventually the two major creditors, Canyon and Goldman Sachs, are going to want their money back. Claman asked Pittman point blank if iHeartMedia was going to have to restructure. Here's what Pittman said...
Day Two Of My CES Experience. Gadgetmania!
Day two of CES 2016 and another day of gadgets to blow your mind. Expanding my convention center experience, I made my way over to the Sands Expo, which is a whole "other" convention center to navigate. Walking in to the fitness, sports-tech wing with my old friend Steve Goldstein from Amplfi media, and seeing Fitbit, Vert, Wahoo, Invoxia, and many other connected fitness items, he said, "The smartphone has enabled all of this and helped to create this category. It's the catalyst."
WTMJ Getting In On Netflix Movie Craze
Scripps-owned WTMJ in Milwaukee is presenting a two-hour special Saturday night, with expanded coverage on their website, on the prosecution of Steven Avery, which has become one of the most popular programs on Netflix.
Cumulus Hit With $540K Sponsorship ID Fine
The FCC's enforcement bureau says it has reached a $540,000 settlement with Cumulus over a sponsorship identification issue at WOKQ (97.5 FM) in Dover, New Hampshire. The station broadcast 178 announcements in support of the Northern Pass hydro-electric energy project without identifying the sponsor of those announcements, in this case a company with a financial interest in the project. This is the largest payment in FCC history for a single-station violation of the Commission’s sponsorship identification laws.
Pittman To Receive Golden Mike Award
The Broadcasters Foundation of America announced Thursday that Bob Pittman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of iHeartMedia, Inc. will receive its 2016 Golden Mike Award on Monday, February 29 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.
Pohlman Replaces Zimmerman At CBS In Chicago
CBS Radio is moving Tim Pohlman from its Phoenix cluster to run Chicago after the firing of market manager Rod Zimmerman. On Thursday morning, Robert Feder reported that Zimmerman and D.O.S. Mark Day were "forced out in the wake of revenue declines." Feder wrote COO Scott Herman cited the disappointing financial performance of the Chicago cluster under Zimmerman and Day to the Chicago staff. Pohlman’s replacement in Phoenix will be announced at a later date.
iHeartMedia Promotes Kibler
iHeartMedia announced Thursday that Kelly Kibler, previously Executive Vice President of Operations for the company’s Texas Major Markets, has taken on a new role as Executive Vice President of Multi-Cultural Marketing for the iHeartMedia Markets Group. The bilingual Kibler will now work with groups across the company to target and communicate to its culturally diverse audience.
Ramiro Joins HOT 96.9 FM In Boston
Greater Media’s HOT 96.9 makes the announcement that Ramiro Torres, also known as “The Freakin’ Puerto Rican," is joining the morning GetUp Crew with Pebbles, Melissa and Wiggy. Ramiro most recently hosted mornings at iHeartMedia's WJMN in Boston. He's been on the air in Boston for over 20 years.